Chapter 367: Separation (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios | Editor: Atlas Studios
“Lord Lian, you don’t have to worry.” Chu Yi gently interrupted Censor Lian, who was about to swear to the heavens, and comforted him. “I know that the theft of the treasury has nothing to do with you.”
“The theft of the inner treasury is of great importance. This case must be investigated thoroughly. Over the next few days, the Embroidered Uniform Guards will temporarily seal your residence. I will instruct them not to disturb Lord Lian and Madam Lian’s daily lives.”
Chu Yi’s kindness and authority made Censor Lian feel grateful. He felt that not only was the Eldest Prince impartial, but he was also benevolent. When he ascended the throne in the future, he would definitely be a benevolent ruler who cared about the world.
“Your Highness is wise.” Censor Lian bowed to Chu Yi gratefully. He wished he could kneel down and thank him for his kindness.
With the help of the old man, Censor Lian walked shakily to the entrance and sent the two of them to the carriage.
As soon as Gu Yanfei got into the carriage, she leaned lazily against the wall and muttered, “Ginseng?”
No matter how bad the Feng family was, they couldn’t possibly take out a hundred-year-old ginseng and still have to steal it from the inner treasury.
Only Censor Lian, who was stupid from studying, would believe Chu Yi so easily.
She raised her eyebrows at Chu Yi and smiled like a blooming spring flower. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and her eyes were abnormally bright.
Facing Gu Yanfei, Chu Yi never planned to hide it. He smiled gently, as if a warm spring breeze had blown into this dark and heavy carriage.
This smile was a tacit agreement.
Chu Yi raised his hand and lifted the curtain at the side. He threw the half of the ginseng to Xiao Shi outside and instructed, “Tell Qin He to investigate the theft of the inner treasury by the Internal Affairs Directorate.”
Xiao Shi agreed respectfully and flew onto the horse.
Chu Yi lowered the curtains again and took out a red-painted wooden box from the hidden compartment of the carriage. The box was divided into nine compartments, each containing different candied plums, preserved fruits, nuts, crispy sugar, and so on.
As he pushed the wooden box in her direction, he said to her casually, “Not only does the Internal Affairs Directorate always take care of the affairs of the Imperial Court, but it also takes care of internal and external affairs. For the past 20 years, the Internal Affairs Directorate has always been in the hands of the Empress Dowager.”
The most important thing in the inner court was the appointment and transfer of personnel, as well as the delivery of internal and external information. Both were controlled by the Internal Affairs Directorate.
This also meant that the Emperor wasn’t only blind in the palace, but also that he could be planted with the Empress Dowager and Kang w.a.n.g at any time. It was impossible to guard against them.
Gu Yanfei was used to Chu Yi telling her about the court and the palace from time to time. The information entered through one ear and left through the other. She casually picked up a candied plum from the box and stuffed it between her lips.
So sour!
Her eyes narrowed into a smile.
Chu Yi took two walnuts from the box and held them in his palm, squeezing them gently.
Crack.
The outer sh.e.l.l of the two walnuts broke into pieces.
Gu Yanfei swallowed the candied plum in her mouth and silently shed tears of sympathy for the people from the Internal Affairs Directorate.
Chu Yi lowered his eyelashes. His cold, white fingers slowly opened the sh.e.l.l of the walnut and took out the intact walnut kernels. He ate one himself and fed the other to Gu Yanfei.
The walnuts were crispy and suited Gu Yanfei’s taste.
The carriage moved slowly out of the alley.
Outside the carriage, Xiao Shi galloped towards the palace before them.
After an incense stick of time, the Internal Affairs Directorate’s Inspector Eunuch Qin He received the “evidence” handed over by Xiao Shi and the Eldest Prince’s oral instructions. He immediately led a team of people out and arrested all the eunuchs in the inner treasury for interrogation at lightning speed.
The palace servants were all on tenterhooks, afraid that they would be implicated.
There was a commotion in the palace as rumors spread:
“I heard that the inner treasury has been stolen. Stealing and selling the items in the inner treasury is a serious crime. These people are too bold.”
“It’s been a busy period recently. The last time the Emperor fell into the water on a pleasure boat, even Eunuch Li was convicted. I wonder how many people will die this time.”
“Eunuch Li is the Empress Dowager’s trusted aide. Even the dignified seal eunuch of the Internal Affairs Directorate was taken down by Eunuch Qin. In my opinion, the person who fell into Eunuch Qin’s hands is probably doomed…”
Everyone looked at the Internal Affairs Directorate with surprise and nervousness. In less than two hours, these captured eunuchs confessed all their crimes.
The palace servants watched helplessly as Qin He, who was dressed in blood, walked out of the Internal Affairs Directorate and went to Yangxin Hall to seek an audience with the Eldest Prince.
After another hour, Eldest Prince Chu Yi used the excuse that “the Internal Affairs Directorate is unfavorable, which is why there are repeated problems” to swiftly and resolutely order the reorganization of the Internal Affairs Directorate. The entire inner court was shocked.
There were also Li Han’s trusted aides who questioned this, but they were immediately “interrogated” by Qin He for corruption or collusion with the foreign court. The tragic state of these people made everyone in the palace feel insecure and anxious.
In just three days, under Chu Yi’s leadership, the Internal Affairs Directorate was split into the 12 directorates of the inner court. Although the name of the Internal Affairs Directorate was retained, its responsibilities were greatly reduced. From then on, it was only responsible for building palaces, mausoleums, equipment, ice, and manholes. It was only equivalent to the work department of the inner court.
The Internal Affairs Directorate, a behemoth that could cover the sky in the inner court, instantly collapsed and was powerless to reverse the situation.
The changes in the inner court were sensational, and to the outside world, no one knew what had happened in the inner court.
It wasn’t until the 19th of the first month that Kang w.a.n.g and Chu You noticed that something was wrong with the inner court.
“My Lord, there’s still no news from the palace today,” Chu You’s personal eunuch said carefully, unable to hide his nervousness.
Someone in the palace usually sent news every three or four days, but ever since the 16th of the first month, the news had suddenly stopped.
A dark cloud surged up Chu You’s forehead. He paced back and forth in frustration, his tall figure tense.
Unable to get news from the palace, Chu You felt like a headless fly. It was as if something had escaped his control..